The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 272 No 7303 p732
12 June 2004

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Paying for statins affects patients' adherence

Patients who have to contribute to the cost of statin treatment are less likely to adhere to therapy, a US study has revealed.

Researchers from the University of Michigan report that almost half of 4,802 patients who were prescribed a statin did not adhere to treatment and about half of first-time users discontinued treatment within four years. Patients who had to pay more towards their treatment discontinued therapy earlier than those who paid less (Journal of General Internal Medicine 2004;19:638).